ECU Libraries Catalog

Call me American : the extraordinary true story of a young Somali immigrant / Abdi Nor Iftin ; with Max Alexander.

Author/creator Iftin, Abdi Nor author.
Other author/creatorAlexander, Max, 1957-
Format Book and Print
EditionFirst edition.
Publication Info New York : Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, [2020]
Copyright Notice ©2020
Description255 pages ; 22 cm
Subject(s)
Uniform titleCall me American (Delacorte Press)
Contents Introduction -- Under the neem tree -- The first bullets -- Trail of thorns -- City of women and children -- Arabic to English -- The one they call American -- Buufis -- Wedding vows -- Sin and punishment -- Trapped -- No number -- Messages from Mogadishu -- Little Mogadishu -- Long odds -- White rooms -- Respect -- Epilogue.
Abstract Adapted from the adult memoir, this gripping story follows one boy's journey into young adulthood and offers an intimate account of modern immigration.Abdi Nor Iftin grew up amidst a blend of cultures, far from the United States. At home in Somalia, his mother entertained him with vivid folktales and bold stories detailing her rural, nomadic upbringing. As he grew older, he spent his days following his father, a basketball player, through the bustling street of the capital city of Mogadishu.But when the threat of civil war reached Abdi's doorstep, his family was forced to flee to safety. Through the turbulent years of war, young Abdi found solace in popular American music and films. Nicknamed Abdi the American, he developed a proficiency for English that connected him--and his story--with news outlets and radio shows, and eventually gave him a shot at winning the annual U.S. visa lottery.Abdi shares every part of his journey, and his courageous account reminds readers that everyone deserves the chance to build a brighter future for themselves.-- Publisher's description.
General note"This work is based on Call me American, ©2018 by Abdi Nor Iftin and Max Alexander. Originally published in hardcover by Alfred A. Knopf in 2018 and subsequently published in paperback by Vintage Books, in 2019"--Title page verso.
General note"Adapted for young adults" - cover.
Interest age level Ages 12 and up
Interest grade level Grade 8-12
Audience 900 Lexile
Issued in other formOnline version: Iftin, Abdi Nor, author. Call me American First edition. New York, NY : Delacorte Press, 2020 9781984897121
Genre/formAutobiographies.
Genre/formBiographies.
Genre/formHistory.
Genre/formJuvenile works.
Genre/formYoung adult nonfiction.
Genre/formAutobiographies.
LCCN 2019018309
ISBN9781984897114 hardcover
ISBN198489711X hardcover

Available Items

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner TRC Biographies B IF7C ✔ Available Place Hold